The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
Our County Officers.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THOSE WHO so
ABLY CONDUCT OUR COUNTY
AFFAIRS.

out of place in this connection, for
surely goodly per centage Of our
prosperity is due to their efforts:
RICHARD D. wARING.
Mr.. Waring is the county clerk. He
was born in Belfast, Ireland, July 4th,
1S49, land is a''true son of the ovid sod. )"
He came to America in 1867, remain
ing in New York City until the winter
of 69-70, when he took Horace Gree
ley's advice and came west, buying a
farm in Ridge township, of which be
was one of The first settlers. Here he
remained until lie was elected to his
present office III 1881, on the Republi-
can ticket, when lie removed to Abb
lene, where lie has resided ever since.
J lie was reelected i'm 1888, and again in
1885, sufficient evidence of his pOpu-
larity and efficiency.
JEFFERSON J. MILLER.
Mr.. Miller is the sheriff lie halls
from tie Keystone state. and was born
10 CarbOndale, Luzerne county,in 1915.
He came 10 Dickinson county in 1876,
tilling the soil OH fine farm Oh Tur-
key Creek for three years, after which
he moved to Abilene and engaged in
the meat business. In 1881 he suffered
from bad attack of the gold fever,
and in company with 81 others left
Abilene for Colorado. The party drove
the whole distance, ending up in Black
Hawk City, Clear Greek Canon. Mr..
Miller's mining ventures were not very
profitable, and he accordingly returned
to Abilene the same year, buying out
the McCurdy transfer line, and run
ming that until he was appointed city
marshal by the then mayor, A S. DAY.
idson. In this capacity he served I'M
til he was elected sheriff by the Demo-
Gratis in 1888, and again in 1885. Mr..
Miller, or jeff" as he is known by
everybody, is prominent member of
the fire department, A. F. & A. NJ,
A. o. L. w., and 1. o. o. F. AS the
sheriff of Dickinson county he has
shown himself to be a fearless, trust
worthy officer, and just the man in a
thousand for such position.
MARTIN V. BRILLIANT.
Mr.. Brilliant is the district clerk.
He is like the sheriff, Pennsylvania
and democrat. He made his first ap-
pearance upon this mundane sphere on
March 23d, 1915, coming to Kansas in
1877, land engaging himself as clerk in
this city, in j. E. Bonebrake's estab-
lishment, where he remained a year.
and then opened up in the grocery bus
mess for himself, which he sold out a
short time after. lie then served as
und~r sheriff for Henry Lifts for nine
months. ;lfter which he spent a year
farming. The Abilene broom
factory was his next enterprise. in
which he continued until he was ap-
pointed deputy county treasurer in
1882, under Thomas Kirby. In 1885
he was elected to his present position.
which his capabilities enable him TO
fill perfectly.
W. 2. SEEDS.
w. p. Seeds is the probate court
judge, and enjoys the proud distinction
of being the youngest judge in Kansas.
He was born in Huntington county,
Pa, in 1855, coming to Dickinson
county in October, 1880, and taught
school the following winter in Cheever
township. In the spring of 1881, he
went into the law Office of Stambaugh
& Hurd, where he remained until 1882.
when he was appointed under-sheriff
by Henry Lifts. This position he re-
signed in September of the same year.
and left for st. Louis. Graduating
from a law school in that city.
he returned to Abilene, and on
May 26, 1888, was admitted to the
bar, and chung out his shingle." In
May, 1884, he was appointed city attor-
ney by the then mayor, C. J. McDivitt.
and has continued to fill the office until
within few days ago, having resigned
in order to devote his whole time and
attention to bis duties as probate Judge.
In November, 1885, he was elected, on
the Democratic ticket, to his present
position, which he fills in a manner
satisfactorily to all. Mr.. Seeds, al
though young man, has an old head
on him, and has large list of warm
personal friends and acquaintance
who are more than pleased to see his
early ascent up the ladder of fame.
JOHN J. COOPER.
John j. Cooper is the county treas
urer. He was born in 1S47, in Peel
county, Province of Ontario. He came
to Kansas in 1869, when the Texas cat
tie trade was at its height, and turned
cowboy, driving and herding ''long
horns" until 1872, after which he became
farmer, in which occupation he contin-
ued until 1876. He then came to Abb
lene and engaged in the butchering
business and shipping of cattle. In
1880. he quit the former business and